City Council Regular Meeting Tuesday, December 16, 2025 06:00 PM City Council Chambers 300 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins & via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/98241416497

PROCLAMATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
5:00 PM

A)PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS - None.

REGULAR MEETING
6:00 PM

B)CALL MEETING TO ORDER

C)PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

D)ROLL CALL

E)CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA REVIEW

•  City Manager Review of Agenda

•  Consent Calendar Review, including removal of items from Consent Calendar for individual discussion.

F)COMMUNITY REPORTS - None.

G)PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY TOPICS OR ITEMS OR COMMUNITY EVENTS
(Including requests for removal of items from Consent Calendar for individual discussion.)

Individuals may comment regarding any topics of concern, whether or not included on this agenda. Comments regarding land use projects for which a development application has been filed should be submitted in the development review process** and not to Council.

  Those who wish to speak are required to sign up using the online sign-up system available at:

fcgov.com/council-meeting-participation-signup/ 

•  Each speaker will be allowed to speak one time during public comment. If a speaker comments on a particular agenda item during general public comment, that speaker will not also be entitled to speak during discussion on the same agenda item.

•  All speakers will be called to speak by the presiding officer from the list of those signed up. After everyone signed up is called on, the presiding officer may ask others wishing to speak to identify themselves by raising their hand (in person or using the Raise Hand option on Zoom), and if in person then will be asked to move to one of the two lines of speakers (or to a seat nearby, for those who are not able to stand while waiting).

•  The presiding officer will determine and announce the length of time allowed for each speaker.

•  Each speaker will be asked to state their name and general address for the record, and, if their comments relate to a particular agenda item, to identify the agenda item number. Any written comments or materials intended for the Council should be provided to the City Clerk.

•  A timer will beep one time and turn yellow to indicate that 30 seconds of speaking time remain and will beep again and turn red when a speaker’s time has ended.

[**For questions about the development review process or the status of any particular development, consult the City's Development Review Center page at fcgov.com/developmentreview,  or contact the Development Review Center at 970.221.6760.]

H)PUBLIC COMMENT FOLLOW-UP

I)COUNCILMEMBER REMOVAL OF ITEMS FROM CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION

CONSENT CALENDAR

The Consent Calendar is intended to allow Council to spend its time and energy on the important items on a lengthy agenda. Staff recommends approval of the Consent Calendar. Agenda items pulled from the Consent Calendar by either Council or the City Manager will be considered separately under their own Section, titled “Consideration of Items Removed from Consent Calendar for Individual Discussion.” Items remaining on the Consent Calendar will be approved by Council with one vote. The Consent Calendar consists of:

•  Ordinances on First Reading that are routine;
•  Ordinances on Second Reading that are routine;
•  Those of no perceived controversy;
•  Routine administrative actions.

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

J)ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR

K)CONSENT CALENDAR FOLLOW-UP (This is an opportunity for Councilmembers to comment on items adopted or approved on the Consent Calendar.)

L)STAFF REPORTS - None.

M)COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS

N)CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION

O)CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS PLANNED FOR DISCUSSION

The method of debate for discussion items is as follows:

•  Mayor introduced the item number and subject; asks if formal presentation will be made by staff
•  Staff presentation (optional)
•  Mayor requests public comment on the item (three minute limit for each person)
•  Council questions of staff on the item
•  Council motion on the item
•  Council discussion
•  Final Council comments
•  Council vote on the item

Note: Time limits for individual agenda items may be revised, at the discretion of the Mayor, to ensure all have an opportunity to speak. The timer will buzz when there are 30 seconds left and the light will turn yellow. It will buzz again at the end of the speaker’s time.

  1. 19.Items Relating to Tree Policy.

    A.  Second Reading of Ordinance No. 172, 2025, Amending Article 5, Section 10 of the Land Use Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Establishing a Three-Year Establishment Period for Street Trees.

    B.  Second Reading of Ordinance No. 174, 2025, Amending Article 5, Section 10 of the Land Use Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Enhancing Tree Mitigation.

    These Ordinances, adopted on First Reading on October 21, 2025, by a vote of 4-2 (Nays: Arndt, Francis), amend Article 5, Section 10 of the Land Use Code of the City of Fort Collins for the purpose of establishing a three-year establishment period for street trees, and amend Article 5, Section 10 of the Land Use Code of the City of Fort Collins for the purpose of enhancing tree mitigation.

    These items are a part of seven ordinances that provide five tree policies for potential adoption in City Municipal and Land Use Codes, including an ordinance for tree spacing and Code maintenance. The five policies intend to update best management practices around tree preservation and mitigation, thus improving predictability and simplification of the current code.

    Staff is suggesting changes based on Council feedback from first reading of these two Ordinances on October 21, 2025.  These are provided in alternate versions of each ordinance.  A summary of the suggested changes is as follows:

    Ordinance No.172, 2025, edits include:

    • Added language for clarity around LUC Landscape and Irrigation Installation Escrow (subsection (I)) to connect code with process/practice with how financial guarantees may be partially or fully released upon completion. Subsection (I) was not initially included in First Reading of the ordinance and is now included per discussions with Hartford Homes to address their concern on the escrow process.
    • Language added to clarify the phased street tree planting approach during development and how this effort is determined in partnership with the developer. This creates additional flexibility and creates improvements on permit tracking and release of street tree establishment.
    • The proposed ordinance continues to include a three-year establishment period. While there may be disagreement about the efficacy of this policy between staff and a local developer, staff believe the three-year establishment period will be a substantial improvement from existing code requirements.

    Ordinance No. 174, 2025, edits include:

    • Added language to clarify protection for street trees if not approved for removal through the development review process.
    • Added clarity around how the payment in lieu fee reduction will work and is based on accepting expenditures for enhanced tree planting measures.
    • Staff reviewed the concern that had been raised at first reading about conflicts with fire access considerations, and to address this, language has been added to Section 3 of this Ordinance, limiting the use of a double row of street trees to only situations where compatible with emergency access.

    Associated Ordinance Nos.169-171, 173 and 175 were adopted unanimously on November 3, 2025.

  2. 24.Items Related to the Adoption of the 2024 International Codes, the 2023 National Electric Code, and the 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code, with local amendments. 

    1. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 211, 2025, Amending Chapter 5, Article II, Division 2 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Repealing the 2021 International Building Code and Adopting the 2024 International Building Code, with Amendments.  
    2. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 212, 2025, Amending Chapter 5, Article II, Division 2 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Repealing the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code and Adopting the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code, with Amendments.  
    3. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 213, 2025, Amending Chapter 5, Article II, Division 2 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Repealing the 2021 International Residential Code and Adopting the 2024 International Residential Code, with Amendments.  
    4. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 214, 2025, Amending Chapter 5, Article II, Division 2 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Repealing the 2021 International Existing Building Code and Adopting the 2024 International Existing Building Code, with Amendments.  
    5. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 215, 2025, Amending Chapter 5, Article II, Division 2 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Repealing the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code and Adopting the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, with Amendments.  
    6. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 216, 2025, Amending Chapter 5, Article II, Division 3 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Repealing the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code and Adopting the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, with Amendments.  
    7. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 217, 2025, Amending Chapter 5, Article IV of the Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Repealing the 2021 International Mechanical Code and Adopting the 2024 International Mechanical Code, with Amendments.  
    8. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 218, 2025, Amending Chapter 5, Article IV of the Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Repealing the 2021 International Fuel Gas Code and Adopting the 2024 International Fuel Gas Code, with Amendments.  
    9. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 219, 2025, Amending Chapter 5, Article V, Division 1 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Repealing the Colorado Plumbing Code and adopting the 2024 International Plumbing Code, with Amendments.
    10. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 220, 2025, Amending Chapter 5 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Adopting the 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code and Appendices, with Amendments.
    11. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 221, 2025, Amending Chapter 5, Article III of the Code of the City of Fort Collins for the Purpose of Repealing the 2020 National Electrical Code and adopting the 2023 National Electrical Code, with Amendments. 
    12. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 222, 2025, Amending the Land Use Code of the City of Fort Collins to Add Wildfire Resiliency Landscaping Requirements.

    If desired, the following motion language can be used to amend the enforcement date of Ordinances A through I and K above:

    I move that Ordinance No. __, 2025 be amended to add a new Section __ at the end to read as follows:

    “Violations of the City Code provisions set forth above, on or after [DATE], shall be subject to enforcement.”

    These Ordinances, unanimously adopted on First Reading on December 2, 2025, adopts the 2024 International Codes (2024 I-Codes) and the 2023 National Electric Code, which represent the most up-to-date, comprehensive, and fully integrated body of codes regulating building construction and systems using prescriptive and performance-related provisions. The purpose of the 2024 I-Codes is to establish minimum construction requirements to safeguard the public health, safety, and general welfare by regulating structural strength and stability, sanitation, light and ventilation, energy conservation, and property protection from hazards attributed to the built environment within the City of Fort Collins. 

    The 2024 I-Codes will replace the 2021 editions which were adopted by the City on April 5, 2022 (2021 I-Codes). The I-Codes are reviewed and voted on by code officials and construction industry professionals from across the country and published every three years under the oversight of the International Code Council (ICC). These core 2024 I-Codes represent the latest construction publications from the ICC. 

    This item also includes ordinances to adopt the 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code, which is an adaptation of the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code published by the ICC.

    A minor rewording of Section 4 of Ordinance No. 220, 2025, has been made to increase the clarity of (but not change) the enforcement date.

P)RESUMED PUBLIC COMMENT (if applicable)

Q)OTHER BUSINESS

  1. OB 1.Possible consideration of the initiation of new ordinances and/or resolutions by Councilmembers.

    (Three or more individual Councilmembers may direct the City Manager and City Attorney to initiate and move forward with development and preparation of resolutions and ordinances not originating from the Council's Policy Agenda or initiated by staff.)

R)ADJOURNMENT

Every regular Council meeting will end no later than midnight, except that: (1) any item of business commenced before midnight may be concluded before the meeting is adjourned and (2) the Council may, at any time prior to adjournment, by majority vote, extend a meeting beyond midnight for the purpose of considering additional items of business. Any matter that has been commenced and is still pending at the conclusion of the Council meeting, and all matters for consideration at the meeting that have not yet been considered by the Council, will be deemed continued to the next regular Council meeting, unless Council determines otherwise.

Upon request, the City of Fort Collins will provide language access services for individuals who have limited English proficiency, or auxiliary aids and services for individuals with disabilities, to access City services, programs and activities. Contact 970.221.6515 (V/TDD: Dial 711 for Relay Colorado) for assistance. Please provide advance notice. Requests for interpretation at a meeting should be made by noon the day before.

A solicitud, la Ciudad de Fort Collins proporcionará servicios de acceso a idiomas para personas que no dominan el idioma inglés, o ayudas y servicios auxiliares para personas con discapacidad, para que puedan acceder a los servicios, programas y actividades de la Ciudad. Para asistencia, llame al 970.221.6515 (V/TDD: Marque 711 para Relay Colorado). Por favor proporcione aviso previo cuando sea posible. Las solicitudes de interpretación en una reunión deben realizarse antes del mediodía del día anterior.